The inability to reach agreement over a number of unsettled restrictions, involving the Reno Air racing Association and the FAA, forced the Unlimited Racing Division of the National Air Racing Group to call for a "safety stand down" from this year's Reno Air Races.

Yet, within hours of that announcement, the Reno Air Racing Association unveiled the Unlimited Warbird Racing Class, a new, high-profile racing class organization at the 50th annual National Championship Air Races this September. Ashley, Airbus’ entry into the fuel-efficient composite-construction market took off at 10 am local time from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in France on Friday, and flew for four hours and five minutes. An international flight test crew of six was on board for the inaugural flight. The brand new Great Lakes made its first flight, Sunday, June 9th under the pilotage of Gabriel Valim and the watchful eye of Waco Boss, Peter Bowers. The aircraft was reported to have flown exceedingly well, with specific appreciation for its having rigged out well right from the start. Basic performance and handling parameters were also reported to have been met or exceeded in the initial test flight. The aircraft will resume test flying this week and it expected to show up at this year's
Oshkosh EAA Fly-In (so long as the FAA doesn't start charging pilots extra just to fly in...). All this... and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!

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